The Center for Rare Diseases will celebrate Rare Disease Day on February 28th. Rare Disease Day is a patient-led, globalized effort to raise awareness for diseases that affect less than 1 in 2,000 people.
Center for Precision Medicine faculty member Dr. Stephen Meyn, FACMG, is a co-director of the Center for Rare Diseases, and Dr. April Hall, CGC, and Dr. Bryn Webb, FACMG, contribute to the amazing work completed there.
Dr. Meyn’s current research interests include discovering new disease genes, developing novel clinical applications for 3rd generation sequencing, and advancing our understanding of the telomeropathies. He also is working on improving rapid genome testing of newborn infants through his BadgerSeq project.
Dr. Hall is a genetic counselor and is working to improve access to genetic services and testing. She co-founded the Baby Badger Network, which provides support and education surrounding genomic testing to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) across Wisconsin.
Dr. Webb is a board-certified pediatrician, clinical geneticist, and clinical molecular geneticist with particular interest in researching Moebius syndrome and related facial weakness conditions and mitochondrial disorders.
Drs. Hall, Meyn, and Webb are also members of the UW Undiagnosed Disease Program (UW-UDP). Research on rare diseases helps to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses, which means timely treatment that is best suited for each patient’s unique needs.
See more: Work done in Dr. Webb’s lab was covered by local news in 2025 – ABC WKOW 27 | Madison, WI; WIFR News | Rockford, IL; CBS58 | Milwaukee, WI